TUESDAY'S PERSONAL FINANCE STORIES

At first, you might think it was a joke repeated from some late-night monologue: "Hey, did you hear that Americans have finally figured out how they're going to retire in luxury? They're all going to win the lottery. Yeah, now there's the ticket!"

Don't yuk it up too much. In fact, nearly one-quarter of us think the lottery is our best chance to amass a six-figure nest egg, according to a new survey. This despite the fact that most Americans understand the value of saving, even saving just a little bit at a time and letting it build. The problem isn't in the understanding; it's in the doing.

It's much easier to dream of a big windfall that will set your financial plan to rights than it is to stash 10% of your paycheck away year after year and wait for it to compound into a sum on which you can live. But you have a better than 50-50 chance of making your goals with that kind of discipline, given historical market returns; the lottery, on the other hand, may be more like a 13 million to 1 shot.

Our lead story looks at a Consumer Federation of America survey about attitudes toward saving and financial planning, Read it, plus find out which firms made this year's Fortune magazine list of best places to work and check in with Paul B. Farrell and let him know what you think will trigger the big meltdown of 2006 that he's predicting, on Tuesday's Personal Finance pages.

If you think the lottery is your only road to riches, maybe you should at least diversify your strategy to include the racetrack, Indian bingo and the World Poker Tournament. You still won't have a nest egg at retirement, but you'll at least have had more fun.

Steve Kerch, assistant managing editor/personal finance

20% say lottery is most practical path to wealth

A majority of Americans are pessimistic about their ability to save $200,000 in net wealth in their lifetimes, and more than one-fifth say the lottery is the most practical way for them to reach that type of goal, according to a new survey. See full story.

WORKPLACE ISSUES

Genentech tops Fortune's list of 'best firms'

Genentech, a biotechnology firm whose chief executive regularly fields questions from workers and where employees have access to $10,000 in annual tuition reimbursements, earned top honors on Fortune's list of "best companies" to work for this year. As well as offering on-site child care, dry cleaning, car washing, dental care and a farmer's market, the company pays 95% of workers' health-care premiums, said Brian Muma, senior director of compensation, benefits and services at the firm, which is located in South San Francisco, Calif. "We want our employees to not worry about their families and their health," Muma said. See full story.

ECONOMY

Consumer credit falls for 2nd month

Outstanding U.S. consumer debt fell for the second month in a row in November for the first time in 13 years, the Federal Reserve said Monday. Outstanding credit dropped at an annual rate of 0.4%, or $649 million, in November to $2.156 trillion. In October, credit fell a revised $8.4 billion, or 4.7% annual rate. The October decline was the largest ever in dollar terms and the largest in percentage terms in 15 years. See Economic Report.

INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

Dodge unveils Challenger concept car

Challenger fans from years ago issued a challenge to DaimlerChrysler: Give us a new Challenger. With top Chrysler officials emerging from an oversized FedEx shipping box during its debut at the North American Auto Show, the company showed that it's up to the challenge. Mopar fans will instantly recognize the 2006 Challenger concept as the car of their dreams, we think. See full story.

New Camaro wows Detroit auto show

Finally! General Motors has found a way to generate some positive publicity. All they had to do is bring in a high-school drum corps, some beautifully restored older Camaros, thousands of reporters from all over the world, and get the legendary Bob Lutz to drive the new concept car on stage. The result rocked the North American Auto Show. It didn't hurt that GM had kept a tight lid on the new concept. Here's what we can tell you now. See full story.

TAXES

More January tax tasks

Like it or not, tax season is upon us. In order not to get behind this year, you'll need to start your preparation for filing your 2005 taxes in January. Here are some of the things that need to be on your to-do list this month. See Tax Watch.

INVESTING

What will trigger the great meltdown of 2006?

So give us your honest opinion. We believe you know better than the clueless spinmeisters on Wall Street and in Washington: Tell us which of the following triggers are likely to push us over the edge, into another recession and bear market. See Paul B. Farrell.

Finding dividends in 2006

Hedge fund strategies gained in 2005

Most hedge fund strategies gained in 2005, with many managers beating benchmark equity indexes, according to data released Monday. But convertible-arbitrage funds lost money last year. See full story.

CAREERS

Where the jobs are for in-house lawyers

Thank you, Eliot Spitzer. The New York Attorney General's recent crackdown on financial-services companies -- not to mention the ever-evolving strictures of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulatory requirements -- are fueling demand for in-house attorneys. See story from CareerJournal.

An American ex-pat asks how to find a job in the U.S.

I have worked as a portfolio manager in the Middle East for the past 12 years. I would like to return to the U.S. Despite posting my resume on job boards and using a voice-over-the-Internet phone, which gives me a U.S. number, I have had no interview requests. I'm considering spending $115,000 on an executive M.B.A. from a U.S. business school to re-enter the American market. What are your thoughts? See story from CareerJournal.

Summer-internship offers are too premature for some M.B.A.s

As they stream back to campus from holiday break, first-year M.B.A. students are gearing up to begin interviews for that all-important summer internship. But the screening process actually started months ago -- at corporate presentations, cocktail parties and intimate dinners where recruiters schmoozed with students and sized up the talent. See story from CareerJournal.

REAL ESTATE

Two-family beach homes on the East Coast

In anticipation of warmer days, we take a look at homes on the market in three East Coast beach towns. These properties all have two units, which allows for the possibility of renting at least one of them out for added income. The extra space also can be used as private quarters for visiting friends or relatives. See story from RealEstateJournal.

Glass lamps that don't upstage a room's décor

To give her robin's-egg-blue bedroom a little extra zest, Betsy Thompson recently made a pretty innocuous design choice: investing in two $300 lamps -- in clear glass. See story from RealEstateJournal.

Banks might widen their role beyond traditional lending

Two major banks received the green light from regulators to develop and own large hotel and office properties, potentially opening the door wider for banks to the commercial real-estate business beyond their traditional role as lenders. See story from RealEstateJournal.

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